National Rhymes of the Nursery Part 17

He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs, He used his pipe, and she used her legs; She danced about till the eggs were all broke, She began for to fret, but he laughed at the joke.

He saw a cross fellow was beating an a.s.s, Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes, and gla.s.s; He took out his pipe and played them a tune, And the jacka.s.s's load was lightened full soon.

_A pie sate on a pear-tree_

A pie sate on a pear-tree, A pie sate on a pear-tree, A pie sate on a pear-tree, Heigh O, heigh O, heigh O!

Once so merrily hopped she, Twice so merrily hopped she, Thrice so merrily hopped she, Heigh O, heigh O, heigh O!

Shoe the horse, and shoe the mare; But let the little colt go bare.

_Doctor Faustus was a good man_

Doctor Faustus was a good man, He whipped his scholars now and then;

When he whipped them he made them dance, Out of Scotland into France, Out of France into Spain, And then he whipped them back again!

Sing! sing! What shall I sing?

The cat's run away with the pudding string.

_The fox and his wife_

The fox and his wife they had a great strife, They never ate mustard in all their whole life; They ate their meat without fork or knife, And loved to be picking a bone, e-ho!

The fox jumped up on a moonlight night; The stars they were s.h.i.+ning, and all things bright; Oh, ho! said the fox, it's a very fine night For me to go through the town, e-ho!

The fox when he came to yonder stile, He lifted his lugs and he listened awhile!

Oh, ho! said the fox, it's but a short mile From this unto yonder wee town, e-ho!

The fox when he came to the farmer's gate, Who should he see but the farmer's drake; I love you well for your master's sake, And long to be picking your bone, e-ho!

The grey goose she ran round the haystack, Oh, ho! said the fox, you are very fat; You'll grease my beard and ride on my back From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!

Old Gammer Hipple-hopple hopped out of bed, She opened the cas.e.m.e.nt, and popped out her head; Oh! husband, oh! husband, the grey goose is dead, And the fox is gone through the town, oh!

Then the old man got up in his red cap, And swore he would catch the fox in a trap; But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip, And ran through the town, the town, oh!

When he got to the top of the hill, He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill, For joy that he was safe Through the town, oh!

When the fox came back to his den, He had young ones both nine and ten, "You're welcome home, daddy; you may go again, If you bring us such nice meat From the town, oh!"

They that wash on Friday, wash in need; And they that wash on Sat.u.r.day, oh! they're s.l.u.ts indeed.

_Robert Barnes, fellow fine_

"Robert Barnes, fellow fine, Can you shoe this horse of mine?"

"Yes, good Sir, that I can, As well as any other man; There's a nail, and there's a prod, And now, good Sir, your horse is shod."

_Twinkle, twinkle, little star_

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are, Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing s.h.i.+nes upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark Thanks you for your tiny spark: How could he see where to go, If you did not twinkle so?

In the dark blue sky you keep, Often through my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye, Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark Lights the traveller in the dark, Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

_On Christmas eve I turned the spit_

On Christmas eve I turned the spit, I burnt my fingers, I feel it yet; The c.o.c.k sparrow flew over the table, The pot began to play with the ladle; The ladle stood up like a naked man, And vowed he'd fight the frying-pan; The frying-pan behind the door Said he never saw the like before; And the kitchen clock I was going to wind, Said he never saw the like behind.

_Multiplication is vexation_

Multiplication is vexation, Division is just as bad; The Rule of Three perplexes me, And Practice drives me mad.

_Elizabeth_

Elizabeth, Eliza, Betsy, and Bess, Went over the water to rob a bird's nest, They found a nest with five eggs in it, They each took one, and left four in it.

Jack be nimble Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick.

_Good people all, of every sort_

Good people all, of every sort, Give ear unto my song: And if you find it wondrous short, It cannot hold you long.

In Islington there was a man, Of whom the world might say, That still a G.o.dly race he ran, Whene'er he went to pray.

A kind and gentle heart he had, To comfort friends and foes; The naked every day he clad, When he put on his clothes.

And in that town a dog was found: As many dogs there be-- Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends, But, when a pique began, The dog, to gain some private ends, Went mad, and bit the man.